WEDDINGS MADE SIMPLE: Real Simple is thought to be an authority on cleaning and organization, but this month, the Time Inc. title will publish "Real Simple Weddings," a planning guide to all aspects of the big day. The guide will be sold at Crate and Barrel stores for $12.95 until Jan. 28, and then at any bookstore that carries bridal magazines. Crate and Barrel is the sole advertiser in the issue and created new print ads exclusive to the weddings title. Realsimple.com recently enhanced its site to include weddings content from the book, which lives under a new celebrations section on the site. With all the weddings magazines and how-to guides already in bookstores, why did Real Simple, which has never published weddings content, publish its own bridal guide? "We're all about making life easier, so we've covered home, food, fashion," said publisher Steve Sachs. "We know the wedding planning process is stressful, and while there are many wedding planning products, none of them tackle it from the position of making life easier." Sachs explained that weddings were the second most popular search topic on Real Simple's Web site, though, prior to last week, it produced no information on the topic. Even competitors acknowledged Real Simple's organizational approach was a good start for brides-to-be. "Part of wedding planning is about organization, but it goes much further than that. Style and design, personalizing your wedding and etiquette are all important details," said Theresa DiMasi, editor of Brides.com.

The magazine already does two annual special issues, Real Simple Family and Real Simple Travel. It will not publish a third annual special, Real Simple Food, this year. — Stephanie D. Smith